Jelani Gibson’s Post

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Politics and cannabis for NJ.com/Star-Ledger and NJ Cannabis Insider

Hemp bill signed. Governor's words: "The status quo is untenable, and this bill will put an end to it. Immediately upon my signature, it will be unlawful to sell or distribute a product intended for human consumption that contains THC in any detectable amount to a person under 21 years of age. And in thirty days, it will be at least temporarily unlawful for intoxicating hemp products to be sold or distributed in New Jersey by anyone other than cannabis businesses licensed and overseen by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. I would have preferred to sign a bill that stopped there. Late amendments to this bill in the Legislature opened the door to the sale and distribution of intoxicating hemp beverages by holders of plenary wholesale licenses and plenary retail distribution licenses for alcoholic beverages (“alcohol licensees”), in addition to licensed cannabis businesses. These amendments create a number of challenges. First, I am concerned that the bill requires the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (the “Commission”) to establish a new regulatory program for alcohol licensees selling intoxicating hemp beverages but does not provide the Commission with the resources necessary to establish the program. This omission raises questions about the Commission’s ability to stand up a program that would expand intoxicating hemp beverage sales and distribution to alcohol licensees, let alone to do so within the timelines envisioned by the bill. The bill also does not explicitly require alcohol licensees that sell or distribute intoxicating hemp products to comply with the many regulatory requirements that apply to cannabis businesses. These include, among other requirements, mandates that retail employees be trained about the products being sold, that licensees maintain labor peace agreements, and that operations are consistent with municipal ordinances, including municipal ordinances prohibiting the operation of any one or more classes of cannabis establishment, or cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services."

Kristen Goedde

Founder at Trichome Analytical

3mo

This benefits no one, and may destroy what is left of the already decimated NJDA hemp program. As the full statement reads, this creates a potential loophole which allows for out of state produced "intoxicating hemp" to be sold anywhere in NJ, but NOT in-state produced outside of a class 5 retailer. It incorrectly classifies CBD flower and CBD full spectrum as "intoxicating" hemp by completely disregarding naturally occurring ratios and applies the pre-harvest definition to products post harvest. We are well into harvest season! Now it's on the CRC to immediately grandfather in the few remaining NJ hemp licensees to allow a pathway for sale (if retailers will even stock CBD?) or they will destroy even more small businesses who have been trying to do it right since before AU legalization.

Spencer Belz

NJ Cannabis Professional

3mo

How absurd. We’ve done all this work for a regulated cannabis market and now alcohol can sell intoxicating hemp (no such thing) in a heartbeat.

Eric C. Axelson

Garden State Harvest LLC

3mo

Ridiculous. Just goes to prove who has a stronger lobbying arm. Alcohol add on defines the NJ politics game to a tee. There is no such thing as a legal intoxicating hemp product allowed in NJ as synthetics are banned by the NJ Dept of Agriculture. There were other was around cleaning up the illegal intoxicating hemp product sales. Carving out an exception for the alcohol industry just proves money buys the power in NJ.

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Jaraun Khaim Wright

Husband, Father, Author, Environmentalist, Security Professional, NJCRC Class 5 License Holder, Student Pilot, Recording Artist, Passive House Tradesperson, Adventure Philanthropist, LLM Prompt Engineer & Future FSO

3mo

Hey Jelani! All is well. I’m ready, whenever you are to meet at our location in Morristown and highlight our story. It’s wild.

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Amber D. Lengacher

Attorney | Compliance & Policy expert driving social equity in the cannabis industry and other emerging industries.

3mo

you got a link to the signing announcement?

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